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By Liz Haas, Rayzist
• Consider a custom mask service to
produce your photomask stencils; this
service saves you labor time for a min-
imal cost.
• Typically, a border of 1/4 or 1/2 inch is
placed around artwork; if you have a
1-inch border, you can avoid the need to
tape. We recommend an alignment or
specific border that best fits your item
or shape. This eliminates critical time in
mask placement.
• Invest in production equipment, espe-
cially an automatic washout system.
• Additional production tools to consider
are a film dryer and larger exposure
system. A larger exposure system allows
you to expose multiple prints at one time
or even long sheets.
• Create a production setup/flow. It is
important to have all supplies on hand.
Use the dual door feature on your sand-
carving system — this allows for an easy
load of ready-to-blast items and unload
of etched items. Placing the etched prod-
ucts in a sink of water to allow the mask
to lift off the substrate makes cleanup
easy and fast.
• Have a reliable self-contained sand-
carving system. Use a system that recy-
cles the abrasive. Prior to starting, order
replacement parts for your system and
go through any required maintenance.
One way to sandcarve a large
number of smaller items is to
attach them to a background
piece (as seen in this example),
which speeds up the process.
IMAGE COURTESY RUTH DOBBINS
When blasting items
for a high-volume
order, having an efficient
production flow/layout save
time. IMAGE COURTESY RAYZIST
TO BE HIGHLY EVALUATED
Perhaps the one most important thing
to keep in mind is to not panic. These
orders may require a little more thought
and planning, but they can yield great
profit and keep customers coming back.
The key is to keep an open mind.
"Explore your options," Haas advises. "A
large-volume project may have you thinking
outside the box and could bring change to
the way you currently process orders, pre-
paring you for future large orders."
Stephens adds to that sentiment. "High-
volume orders can be intimidating at first,
but having a good understanding of the
requirements of such jobs is helpful in
the long run. If done correctly, this kind
of lucrative work will exponentially grow
any business."
How to Prepare for a High-Volume Sandcarving Project
A&E
12 a-e-mag.com • A&E AUGUST 2018